Accel by Plutus21

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Director of a Lending Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a short term lending company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Novo to accomplish?

• Create a loan management system

SOLUTION

How did you find Novo?

Referral

Why did you select Novo over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Novo were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We needed to create software that helps us manage the loans in our system. They have done custom report generating, uploading documents, smart search features and other custom features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The Novo team successfully completed the MVP several weeks ahead of schedule, showcasing the ability to efficiently manage time-sensitive projects. This early delivery allowed for additional time to refine and tailor the software, to our unique needs. 
The custom development aspect of this project was particularly noteworthy, as it involved creating specialized features and integrations that streamlined the lending process. This not only enhanced the user experience but also led to significant time savings for us, optimizing our operations and creating more efficiency.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Throughout our collaboration, Novo exhibited exemplary leadership and project management skills, ensuring a smooth and transparent development process. They steered every phase, actively involving me to guarantee my vision and requirements were perfectly aligned with their execution. Regular stand-up meetings, held multiple times a week, facilitated a seamless integration of efforts between the onshore and offshore teams, fostering an environment of close cooperation and mutual understanding. 
My team was kept well informed with daily updates, providing clear insights into the progress and the intricate aspects of the development. This constant communication not only reinforced my confidence in the team but also allowed for real-time feedback and adjustments. 
Impressively, Novo's ability to deliver the project ahead of schedule opened up opportunities to enrich the software with additional features, significantly enhancing the final product. Their commitment to early delivery, without compromising on quality, truly sets Novo apart.

What was your primary form of communication with Novo?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We are thrilled with their communication, knowledge, and prompt and high-quality delivery.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Novo could have done differently?

Sometimes the development team let their creativity distract them from focusing on the objective. This is something we worked with the team on. I understand everyone has their own ideas and it's not possible to hear everyone out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the founder and CEO of BIGToken. We’re a next-generation consumer data and loyalty technology company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Novo?
We hired Novo to help us create a technology team to build and launch our platform. They also provided a growth team to help us achieve product-market fit and establish communication channels with marketplaces on both the consumer and investor levels. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?
We initially had some meetings and discovery calls with Novo. They then provided us with documentation and a proposal.

So far, Novo has embedded their teams to work as our own, helping us build our web app. They’ve developed our website and assisted us in marketing and sales, creating collateral and materials such as presentations, case studies, and proposals. On top of that, their growth team helped with the copy and language involved in our web app. In terms of marketing, they help us market on LinkedIn and X.
 
For features, the web app helps with the onboarding of customers into our digital wallet, and it enables us to interact with customers through NFTs in the blockchain. We can create digital profiles for these customers and re-engage them directly through the digital wallet — all without requiring personally identifiable information.
What is the team composition?
On the technology side, we work with a product manager, two developers, and an engineer. On the growth side, we work with two growth leads.
How did you come to work with Novo?
We found Novo through a referral.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve invested $50,000–$60,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The engagement started in April 2023, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Novo has initiated our social media and online marketing efforts and successfully produced a product that’s now live. We’re now signing up customers on it. Overall, their work has exceeded our expectations.
How did Novo perform from a project management standpoint?
They deliver on time and on budget; they also communicate well with us. For tools, we primarily use Discord, emails, and Google Meet.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their biggest strength is their ability to deliver the project’s scope on time and with high quality. Novo has invested a lot of energy into our project. They truly understand and care about our goals, and they’ve been instrumental in getting the product off the ground and launching it. They’ve helped us achieve product-market fit and bring in customers within a short period of time with a relatively small investment.
 
Overall, they’re invested in partnering with us, and they want to develop a good relationship with us to help us succeed in the future.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, there aren’t any.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
The Novo team is knowledgeable, so communicate a lot with them. Trust that they can understand your needs. They know what they’re doing and what they’re talking about, so follow their lead. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Strategy Analyst of an investment advisor company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is a long/short investment advisor that operates various systematic investment strategies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Novo to accomplish?

• Support on software development
• Support on trading algorithm development
• Support on marketing strategy and implementation

SOLUTION

How did you find Novo?

Referral

Why did you select Novo over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Novo were assigned to this project?

10+

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Novo Associates has been hired by our firm since 2022 to perform software development, trading algorithm development and marketing strategy/implementation. We are working on many projects simultaneously and they have managed to quickly understand the project and execute. They are now a part of our team and provide great support on whatever projects come up.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have now developed multiple trading algorithms and have almost completed a large project of developing our own internal OMS and portfolio management system in the cloud. They have built multiple months of content calendars and written/posted on various social platforms on time. They also helped build out our CRM.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Projects are on time and communication is streamlined through communication applications.

What was your primary form of communication with Novo?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Novo has a large team and broad optionality of work they are able to consult on. We run numerous projects at the same time and have different leads for each project. Discussion is separated into different communication channels by project type. (Ex. Marketing, Quant, Software Development, Special Projects)

Are there any areas for improvement or something Novo could have done differently?

None come to mind at this point.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of Cure Allergy Clinic

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Offer advanced medical and weight loss care via certified physicians.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Novo to accomplish?

• Increase social media awareness
• Improve branding
• Create a lead funnel

SOLUTION

How did you find Novo?

Referral

Why did you select Novo over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Novo were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Improve branding and make consistent upon all platforms. Delivered by expanding our profiles on meta-, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter. Improve social media presence. Helped by offering video editing, video ideas, timelines, and posting calendar. Strategy. Help by creating timelines, and reassessing goals and feedback with lead volume.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Increase engagement in our social media presence.
• Increase followers.
• Increase physical lead value in our physical location.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We had meetings twice a week, all items were delivered in a timely fashion. Our needs were meant. We were very happy with product.

What was your primary form of communication with Novo?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their ability to try a strategy, reassess, and then pivot versus digging in.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Novo could have done differently?

I was happy with my product and have a difficult time finding areas of improvement.